“Make of the world one family”

Xaverian Mission
Volume 57 - No. 3 | August 2009
Newsletter
Website: xaviermissionaries.org • MissionBlog: xaverianmissionaries.blogspot.com

The Hopeful Journey of the African Catholic Church

H ow should the Gospel be

proclaimed in Africa marked
by hatred, wars and injustices? The
question is an invitation to the
Church to start afresh from Christ,
the Fullness of Life, our Reconciler,
our Peace and our Justice. Christ is
our “Hope” (cf. 1 Tm 1:1).

In the light of this, our U.S.

Bishops remind us that “the critical
challenges and enormous potential
facing Africa today serve as the
opportunity for- and test of- our
mutual solidarity. Our response as US
citizens to this vocation of solidarity
with the Church and peoples of
Africa enables us to express love ‘in
deed and in truth’ (1 John 3:18), a
love that creates no borders and sets
no limits to what might be accom-
plished together in Christ.”
A group of fulani women in search for rain found also where we work in Cameroon, Africa

The Holy Father called a special gathering of the

African Bishops this October 2009, its second since the
monumental pastoral letter of John Paul II, The Church in
Africa. It calls us all, especially as Americans in solidarity
with Africa, with a special opportunity to not only learn
about our brothers and sisters of the African Church, but
to act together with them in order to build a new world in
Christ.

In this issue of XMN, we hope the stories from some of

our missionary experiences in Africa and the hope they
portray encourage you to learn more about what we do in
Africa and the many opportunities we all have to put our
faith into action in extraordinary ways. Borrowing from
our Bishops we can say, “a parish reaching beyond its own
members and beyond national boundaries is truly a ‘catho-
lic’ parish.”

The Xaverian Missionaries are deeply committed to the

peoples of Africa in Cameroon, Chad, Sierra Leone,
Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and our new-
est mission in Mozambique on its eastern shores.
Join us as global disciples of Jesus Christ! U
– CC
Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia

What can your Family and Parish do

to be in Solidarity with Africa?

X averian Missionaries
Provincial Headquarters
12 Helene Court
Wayne, NJ 07470-2813
Tel.: (973) 942-2975
Fax: (973) 942-5012
Email: xavwayne@optonline.net
Xavier Knoll Pre-Novitiate House
4500 Xavier Drive
Franklin, WI 53132-9066
Tel.: (414) 421-0831
Fax: (414) 421-9108
E-mail: xavmissionswi@hotmail.com
• Pray regularly for our brothers and sisters in Africa. Prayer must always be the
starting point and foundation for our work of solidarity. Too often we fail to rec-
ognize the power of prayer and how important it is for our brothers and sisters in
situations of great difficulty to know that we truly are one with them in the
Spirit. As Pope Benedict XVI wrote in his first encyclical Deus Caritas Est, “people
who pray are not wasting their time, even though the situation appears desper-
ate and seems to call for action alone…”
• Preach and teach on the challenges facing the Church in Africa and what we can
do to help. Consider organizing an annual educational “African Sunday” in con-
junction with the solidarity collection.

Mission Center & Fatima Shrine

101 Summer Street
P.O. Box 5857
Holliston, MA 01746-5857
Tel.: (508) 429-2144
Fax: (508) 429-4793
E-mail:
holliston.sx@gmail.com
International Theology House
1347 East Hyde Park Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60615-2924
Tel. (773) 643-5745
E-mail: xavformation@hotmail.com
St. Therese Catholic Chinese
Mission
218 West Alexander Street
Chicago, IL 60608-0000
Tel. (312) 842-6777
E-mail:
info_church@sttheresechinatown.org
• Advocate on behalf of the peoples of Africa. Individuals and groups within the
Catholic Church in the United States are actively engaged with the Church in
Africa in the promotion of human rights, debt relief, increased development
assistance, demobilization of child soldiers, promotion of peace in troubled
regions, and protection of the environment. We encourage parishes to help
Catholics to educate themselves about Africa and commit themselves to the pro-
motion of justice, peace, and development through public advocacy. Consider
signing up for your diocese’s legislative alerts, visit CRS’s Africa Rising: Hope and
Healing website, and note recent USCCB advocacy on issues impacting Africa.
Visit also the African Faith and Justice Network (www.afjn.org)
• Partner with a sister parish in Africa: American parishes have found “twinning”
with African sister parishes to be enriching experiences of communion and a
means of deepening bonds of solidarity with other members of the Body of
Christ. Possible ideas could include sponsoring seminarians, contributing funds for
the construction of village chapels, wells, and catechist houses, setting up
Catholic school letter exchanges, or establishing reciprocal spiritual formation
programs.

Xaverian Mission Newsletter

Official publication of the
Xaverian Missionaries
of the United States

Coordinating Editor
Fr. Carl Chudy
Editorial Team
Fr. Tony Lalli
Fr. Joseph Matteucig
Fr. Alfredo Turco
Layout Consultant
Diamand Design,
Wrentham, MA
Printing
Rea-Craft Press, Inc.
Foxboro, MA
E-mail & Web:
xaverianmissionnewsletter@gmail.com
www.xaviermissionaries.org
www.xaverianmissionaries.blogspot.com

Donation:
$5.00 per year

2 Xaverian Mission Newsletter • August 2009


Fr. Rene Lovat, who worked for many years in the USA Province,
with members of his parish in Benakuma, Chad, Africa
T he visit of Benedict XVI from
March 17-20, 2009 was a special
“grace” to the Church of Cameroon.
It was a joyous occasion filled with
great emotion.
All of the Bishops of Africa and
Madagascar were at Yaoundé,
Cameroon to receive the guide from
the successor of Peter for the upcom-
ing Synod of Bishops for Africa to be
held in October in Rome.
During his stay in Cameroon,
Benedict XVI delivered a message rich
in meaning. The Pope expressed his
gratitude to the African continent that
contributed actively to the develop-
ment and growth of Christianity world-
wide. The names of St. Cyprian, St.
Augustine, Saint Athanasius, Origen,
Tertullian, St. Monica are emblems of
early Christianity and all former resi-
dents of the continent of Africa.
Even today, the sons and daughters
of Africa continue to give their contri-
bution to the mission of the church in
all corners of the world. There are
African missionaries, priests, religious
and lay worldwide, the sign of the ever
maturing church of Africa.
Xaverian Missionaries in the World
In his speech upon arrival at the air-
port of Yaoundé, the Pope announced
the purpose of his visit: “I come among
you as a pastor. I come to encourage
my brothers and sisters in faith. I come
to deliver in person to the bishops the
“working tool” for the Synod of African
Bishops.”
The Pope shared with us that the
Christian is “one who hopes against
hope” and called on all Christians in
Africa to become bearers of that hope
with Christ. Speaking of the upcoming
special meeting of Bishops for Africa,
the pontiff indicated that the synod
will have as main objective to give a
new impetus to the mission of the
church: to bring hope in the hearts of
the peoples of Africa and the world.
Speaking to the Bishops of
Cameroon, Benedict XVI urged them to
be an advocate for the poor, to inspire
and encourage the exercise of charity.
“In this way the faithful understand
that the church is a family of God unit-
ed in love, which goes beyond family,
tribe and nation.” U
– Br. Louis Birabaluge, SX
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • August 2009
A Message
of Hope:
The Pope’s Gift
to Africans
Taste of Mission
Try this recipe from
SierraLeone, West Africa
WEST AFRICAN PEANUT SOUP
2 med. onions, chopped
2 lg. red and-or green peppers
chopped
2 tbsp. oil
4 to 5 garlic cloves, mashed
1 (28 oz.) can tomatoes, coarsely
chopped
8 c. chicken stock
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. crushed red hot peppers
1/2 c. orzos (instant brown rice-
works well too)
1 1/2 c. cooked chicken, chopped
2/3 c. peanut butter
In large pot, saute onions, pep-
persand garlic in oil over a moder-
ate tohigh heat until onions are
just be-ginning to brown.Add all
other ingredients EXCEPTorzos (or
rice), chicken and peanutbutter.
Simmer, uncovered, overlow heat
for about 1 hour.Add orzos and
chicken and simmer10 to 15 min-
utes or until orzos arecooked. Add
peanut butter and miuntil it is
completely dissolved and smooth.
Heat to simmer and serve.
Serves 8 to 10
3
Xaverian Missionaries in the World
In Kafogo,
Sierra
Leone,
Signs of a
New Life
Mother and child in a gathering at Church
“in this period
of healing
after the war,
T he Xaverian Missionaries arrived in
Sierra Leone, West Africa in 1950.
We started out in the north where the
population is predominately Muslim. In
the resilient hope those days, we concentrated our atten-
tion on schools, cooperatives, health
offered through care, and the victims of leprosy. Since
then, the Church as grown tremendous-
ly throughout Sierra Leone.
Christ is
During the civil war (1991-2001)
unmistakable. there had been countless deaths, inde-
scribable atrocities and widespread
destruction, both in the capital city
and the most remote villages through-
out the country. By December 1998,
due to the political and military cri-
sis and as a result of the rebel occu-
pation of almost the entire northern
region of the country, we had to
abandon our parishes and mission-
ary activity.
As a sign of hope in a post-war
world, more than eight years after
the war, on the solemn feast of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bishop
George Biguzzi, Bishop of Makeni,
consecrated and blessed a new
The people of Kafogo gathering together church and hall dedicated to the
for the blessing of the church. Sacred Heart of Jesus at Kafogo,
Sierra Leone.
4 Xaverian Mission Newsletter • August 2009
Kafogo is a small town populated by
about ten thousands people. It is one of
the outstations of Sts. Peter and Paul
Parish in Fadugu - Diocese of Makeni,
Sierra Leone. The journey of Kafogo
Catholic community started in the early
70’s when Fr. Franco Maganello, a
Xaverian Missionary began to lay the
foundation of the Church by gathering
people to pray and forming a small
Christian community. After sometime,
the construction of the church began.
Right after the devastation of the
war and the subsequent period of
reconstruction, 400 homes in the area
were repaired through the help of
Catholic Relief Services and a new grav-
ity water system was developed
through the United Nations. Through
the establishment of a new Christian
community in this forested area, in this
period of healing after the war, the
resilient hope offered through Christ is
unmistakable.
The Christian community of Kafogo
would like to remember and express
their gratitude to all the generous
benefactors for their support and help
to finish the project of Kafogo’s church
and hall. God bless you all! U
– Fr. Domingo Jimenez, SX

Bishop George Biguzzi with a friend at Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Wayne, New Jersey
who provide yearly assistance to our diocese in Makeni, Sierra Leone, West Africa.
A
frica is a continent lost between
the cracks of international
financial organizations in a
world often divided between spheres
of influence and power. It is here that
the Church is concerned about the
hopeful journey forward into the future
by way of a special gathering of all
African Bishops in the fall that will
address three crucial issues: reconcilia-
tion, justice, and peace.
Bishop George Biguzzi, a Xaverian
Missionary who worked many years in
the USA, was recently interviewed by
our Italian magazine, Mission Today,
about preparations and expectations
of this upcoming Synod, or meeting of
African Bishops.
Bishop Biguzzi has lived and worked
in Africa since 1974, and appointed
Bishop of Makeni on December 3, 1986.
He is currently the president of the
Conference of Bishops of Gambia and
Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone finished a brutal civil
war lasting over 10 years. How is the
Church working together with other
faiths in the reconstruction of the
country?
Xaverian Missionaries in the USA
An
Interview
with
Bishop George
Biguzzi,
Makeni,
Sierra Leone,
West Africa
More than seven years after the offi-
cial end of the war, peace is at least
stable, although it is still very fragile.
The Interreligious Council, very active
during and immediately after the war,
now struggles to find both direction
and a sense of unity. A few months
ago, the Council acted together with
the UN to resolve some tensions which
had arisen, for political reasons, in the
capital”. In traditional African cultures
there are rituals of reconciliation, how
much can still be used in these situa-
tions?
The traditional rituals of reconcilia-
tion is still very important and effec-
tive. It is important that the victims,
as well as those responsible for the
horrendous war crimes tell their story,
express their anger and pain, their
needs and expectations, and finally,
the possibility of forgiveness. In face
to face meetings with war crime vic-
tims and their victimizers, the commu-
nity, ritual, prayer, song and dance are Church-goer Laurentine Assiga poses for a
portrait outside the Mary Queen of Apostles
the elements that deeply touch the Basilica in Yaounde waiting for the Pope last
people. Without these things, there March 09.
cannot be any true reconciliation. U
– Franco Ferrari
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • August 2009 5
The Church in Africa in Service To Reconciliation and Peace

Second
Synod of
the African
Catholic
Church:
In Service to
Reconciliation and
Peace

“...the urgency of P ope Benedict XVI, in preparation

for the Second Synod of the
African Catholic Church states, “...the
1994 First African Synod

Taking its inspiration from Acts 1:8 –

“you shall be my witnesses to the ends
this Second Special urgency of this Second Special of the earth” – the 1994 African Synod
Assembly is tied to the suffering of the met in Rome between April 10 and May
African peoples, and the dehumanizing 8, 1994 to explore the African Church’s
Assembly is and oppressive situation which persists evangelizing mission at the dawn of the
on the continent. Africa is facing a third millennium. Over 300 Bishops
tied to the suffering whole set of conflicts and problems from across the continent of Africa
which are central to the challenges to gathered at the Vatican, making this
of the African evangelization in Africa today.” one of the largest regional synods since
the close of the Second Vatican
What is a Synod? Council. Within the overarching umbrel-
peoples…” la of evangelization, the major topics
The word “Synod” derives from the of the 1994 Synod included bring
Greek “syn” (together) and “hodos” African cultures and tradition to the
(road/way), “synod” literally means Catholic Church; ecumenical and inter-
“coming together.” Synods are official religious dialogue; justice, peace, and
gatherings of a region’s bishops, in solidarity; social communication; priest-
union with the Pope, to discuss issues ly and religious formation; marriage and
of doctrine, discipline and liturgy. family; and small Christian communi-
Originating in the earliest centuries of ties.
the Church, synods were particularly
important in the ancient North African 2009 Second African Synod
sees of Carthage and Alexandria.
First announced by Pope John Paul II
Modern ecclesiastical synods have in 2004, the Second African Synod will
their roots in the reforms of Vatican II be held at the Vatican from Oct. 4-25,
which looked to establish structures of 2009. The theme will be “The Church
collegiality between Pope and bishops in Africa at the Service of
and among local bishops. Many of the Reconciliation, Justice, and Peace,”
most familiar pastoral changes associat- with scriptural reference to the Sermon
ed with Vatican II – e.g., the new order on the Mount – “You are the salt of the
of the Mass, the revision of canon law, earth, you are the light of the world”
new regulations regarding mixed mar- (Matt 5:18).
riages – grew directly out of synods
reflecting the meaning of Vatican II.

6 Xaverian Mission Newsletter • August 2009


Some Priorities at this Synod
The Pope goes on to say: “The time
has come for lay Christians in Africa to
make a large-scale, resolute commit-
ment to Church and the State. The mis-
sion of the laity pertains to the very
nature of the Church. This is particu-
larly important and needed in Africa
today.
Inter-religious dialogue is presented
as one of the tools for working towards
reconciliation, peace and justice in
Africa. The recognition that this dia-
logue should include African Traditional
Religion and Islam is a step in the right
direction. This dialogue is important
because the interaction between
adherents of these religions and
Christians, at the grass root level, is
very important for peaceful co-exis-
tence. The Church has the task of
forming her members and of promoting
this dialogue.
From the liturgical life of the Church
must flow a spirituality of commitment
to the world. In this, the fruits of the
sacraments celebrated in an ecclesial
community become meaningful for the
society in which the person lives. Such
a spirituality will also nurture a sense
of freedom and every Christian will
The Church in Africa in Service To Reconciliation and Peace
become a reconciler and an agent of
justice and peace.
There is much more to say, in such
as areas as the Church’s voice to the
political, economic and cultural life of
Africans, healing and reconciliation in
the midst of horrific wars, a strength-
ening of Africa’s commitment to Christ
and his mission not just in Africa, but
worldwide.
The US Catholic Commitment to
Africa
Our Bishops remind us: “Responding
to the call of the Church in Africa, as
pastors in the United States we recog-
nize the mutual bonds of solidarity that
unite us—bonds that have been forged
through the life, death, and resurrec-
tion of Jesus Christ. We stand in soli-
darity with the Church and the peoples
of Africa, to recognize and support
their courageous commitment to
peace, justice, and reconciliation. We
encourage the Catholic community in
the United States to contribute its
diverse talents and gifts to the conti-
nent’s causes of justice, peace, and
integral development.” U
– Fr. Carl Chudy, SX
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • August 2009
Catholic Task Force
on Africa
The Catholic Task Force on
Africa is working to raise the
profile of Africa in the U.S.
Catholic community by high-
lighting some of the initia-
tives already underway in
response to the U.S. Catholic
bishops’ 2001 pastoral letter,
“A call to solidarity with
Africa.” If you are interested,
you can receive in your
email:
• a monthly prayer posted
• a weekly story of hope
from Africa
• important documents re-
lating to the themes of
solidarity, social justice,
peace and reconciliation
• a weekly Africa-focused
action alert that will en-
courage prayer, study and
action over the course of a
month to increase atten-
tion to Africa on a regular
basis
Go to www.maryknollogc.org
and click the icon, Together
with Africa, Celebrating
Hope.
7
 World Mission Spirituality
Pope Benedict
A Man of Dialogue
T he Holy Father came to
“...he sought to
assure Muslims
and Jews that
the Church was
a partner in the
attempt to build
a better world.”
Muslim and Jewish high school students come together in the regular
interfaith encounters in a Muslim school in the Middle East
8 Xaverian Mission Newsletter • August 2009
the Middle East last May
2009 in order to promote
ecumenical and inter-reli-
gious dialogue during his
visit. Coming into a region
where Christians make up a
tiny part of the population,
he sought to assure Muslims
and Jews that the Church
was a partner in the attempt
to build a better world. In
Jordan and in the Palestinian
Territories, the Pope was
encountering societies that
are predominantly Muslim.
The controversies of the past
were, if not forgotten, put
to one side and the meetings
with Muslims were marked
by great cordiality. The Pope
visited mosques in both
Amman and Jerusalem and
re-expressed the conviction
that Muslims and Christians
are called to work together
to build societies based upon
the values they share.
A Common Message so often marked by misun
derstanding, must today
Certainly there exists a
strive to be known and rec-
common message, and there
ognized as worshippers of
will be an occasion to pres-
ent it and, despite the dif-
God, faithful to prayer,
eager to uphold and live by
ference of origins, we have
the Almighty’s decrees, mer-
common roots... Islam was
ciful and compassionate,
also born in an environment
consistent in bearing witness
where Judaism and various
to all that is true and good,
branches of Christianity,
and ever mindful of the
(e.g.: Judeo-Christianity,
common origin and dignity of
Antiochian-Byzantine-
all human persons, who
Christianity) were present,
remain at the apex of God’s
and all these circumstances
creative design for the world
are reflected in the tradition
and for history.”
of the Quran. In this way we
have much in common from Furthermore, he pointed
our origins, in the faith in out: ‘Muslims worship God,
the one God. the Creator of Heaven and
Earth, who has spoken to
In a world in which Islam
humanity. And as believers
is often portrayed as being
in the one God we know that
totally other, the Pope has
human reason is itself God’s
insisted that Islam has much
gift and that it soars to its
in common with Judaism and
highest plane when suffused
Christianity. This affirmation,
with the light of God’s
axiomatic for Vatican II’s
truth.”
Nostrae Aetate, and affirmed
by Pope Benedict, still has Inter-religious dialogue
not penetrated all sectors of often seems smoother when
the Church. In Amman the we focus on our commonali-
Pope affirmed: ties but the challenge is to
promote dialogue when our
A History of
differences are most evi-
Misunderstanding dent. This is a formidable
“Muslims and Christians, challenge that still lies
precisely because of the bur- before us. U
den of our common history
– Fr. John Neuhaus, SJ

W
hen all the world
around us seems to
be paired off in couples or
seeking partners, celibate
loving can appear inept, mis-
guided, and even a cop out.
But for those of us to whom
this life is given and who
embrace it healthily and
honestly, no amount of justi-
fication is needed because
it’s about our essence.
Being Available for Larger
Purpose
Celibate chastity, like all
the vows, is more about
interior disposition than
about any behavior or the
absence of any behavior. And
it seems to me that the pri-
mary interior disposition for
love is availability. But to
whom and for what? Married
lovers are available to and
for one another in a manner
they are not available to any
other person. Their love for
God is expressed in and
through their marital com-
mitment. That’s the primary
locus of their love, the emo-
tional center of their lives.
Celibate lovers in religious
communities, along with
their sisters and brothers,
are available to and for the
mission of their congrega-
tions. Their love for God is
expressed through their reli-
gious commitment, and
that’s the primary locus of
their love and the emotional
center of their lives.
So what does all that
mean? For me it means that
I’m available for intimate
relationships but not exclu-
sive ones marked by genital
sexual expression. It means
that I seek friendships and
relationships that honor who
I am and the commitments
that I’ve made. It means that
I surround myself with peo-
ple--both in and outside of
my community—with whom I
can share honestly and deep-
ly about my life and receive
the same from them. It
means that I am free from
the rights and responsibilities
of marriage and family life,
and I take up the rights and
responsibilities of celibate
loving in religious communi-
ty.
Become a Partner in Global Mission
Chaste celibacy
in religious life:
Available for Love
It took me a long time
to grow into the aware-
ness that celibate loving
is a gift. As with any
gift, it’s up to us to
decide if and how we’ll
receive it. And, as with
some gifts that don’t
seem to fit, we some-
times need time to grow
into it.
It’s Bigger than We Think
I don’t know any sister,
brother, or priest who has
ever set out from the begin-
ning to make the celibate
choice. And I don’t know any
successfully married couple
who has ever set out from
the beginning just to have
sex. Celibacy alone does not
make religious life and sex
alone does not make a mar-
riage. Both loves are bigger
Lord, I freely yield all
than how they’re defined. my freedom to you.
Take my memory, my
Neither authentic celibate
intellect and my entire
love nor authentic married
will. You have given
love happens overnight. We
me anything I am or
grow into each of these loves
have; I give it all back
each day through the choices
to you to stand under
that we make and those that
your will alone.
we don’t, through the man-
Your love and your
ner in which we relate to
grace are enough for
ourselves and others and
me; I shall ask for
God, and through our atten-
nothing more.
tiveness to what’s going on
(St. Loyola)
inside of us as we negotiate
the complexities of life and
Through the
love. U intercession of Our
– Sister Mary Pellegrino, C.S. Lady of Guadalupe
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • August 2009 9
World Mission News Digest
World Mission News Digest
Sierra Leone, Africa
“The creation of the “
Apostolic Vicariate of Sierra
Leone” by Pius IX, on 13 April
1858, marked a new start for
Catholic missions in this part
of West Africa which had
been abandoned for too long
” says Italian Xaverian
Missionary, Fr. Gerardo
Caglioni, an expert in the his-
tory of the Catholic Church in
Sierra Leone on the occasion
of the 150 anniversary of the
death of Mgr Melchior de
Marion Brésillac, the coun-
try’s first Vicar Apostolic.
With the appointment as
Vicar of Mgr De Marion
“Gunmen killed Brésillac, Sierra Leone - and
surrounding countries Liberia
Catholic priest and French Guinea - resumed
and two seminary the happy experience of the
17th century when Jesuits
students as they and Capuchin missionaries
left a church in planted vivacious and dynam-
ic Catholic communities in
southern Mexico that distant part of black
Africa.
in early June.”
Philippines
The bishops’ commission on
interreligious dialogue has
lauded the health depart-
ment’s move to allow Muslim
women health workers to
wear veils while on hospital
duty. On June 30, the Islamic
Medical Association of the
Philippines (IMAP) started dis-
tributing a Department of
Health memorandum which
states that female workers
“should be allowed to use
their veil (hijab) and wear
their prescribed mode of
dressing inside the premises
of all healthcare institutions.”
Father Carlos Reyes, execu-
tive secretary of the
Episcopal Commission on
Interreligious Dialogue consid-
10 Xaverian Mission Newsletter • August 2009
Latest News from our Missions Worldwide
ers the memorandum a “posi-
tive” development. He told
UCA News that Muslim
women wearing veils is “an
expression of their religiosity
and religious sentiment.” He
added that people have the
“right” to practice their reli-
gious beliefs as long as public
health and safety are safe-
guarded.
Bangladesh
Nine-year-old Kripa Valentina
Rozario grabbed her color
pencils and drawing papers
as she prepared to attend a
special event for 700 children
at Tejgaon Church. “This was
the first time I joined such a
big gathering of children,”
said Rozario after the pro-
gram, called Grand Gathering
of Children, organized by
Dhaka’s Holy Childhood move-
ment. “I participated in the
drawing competition. I drew
a chalice and a communion
host above it. I enjoyed par-
ticipating in the program very
much,” she beamed. The
five-hour event on June 26
saw the children participating
in a rally, a Mass, sharing ses-
sions and finally the drawing
competition. According to
Holy Cross Sister Taposi
Gomes, a pastoral assistant
at Tejgaon Holy Rosary
Church, this was the first
time the Holy Childhood
movement was holding such a
large gathering of Catholic
kids. During the event, the
kids, aged 6-14, wore paper
caps and chanted religious
slogans in their native Bangla
language, including the oft-
quoted phrase from Saint
Paul, “Woe to me, if I do not
proclaim the Gospel.”
Mexico
Mexican drug traffickers
fighting a brutal turf war are
attacking priests and preach-
ers who denounce cartel vio-
lence, shattering clerics’
untouchable aura and break-
ing honor codes in the
world’s second-biggest
Catholic country. Gunmen
killed a Catholic priest and
two seminary students as
they left a church in southern
Mexico in early June. Around
1,000 Catholic priests face
constant threats from drug
gangs across Mexico and as
many as 400 have been
directly warned to silence
their criticisms of narco vio-
lence and extortions or be
killed, the Mexican Bishop’s
Conference says. “They
threatened to burn me and
my family alive,” said evange-
list pastor Bartolome Garcia,
who fled a lawless hamlet
where he worked near
Tijuana on the U.S. border
last year. “They don’t like it
that we preach and criticize
them,” said Garcia, who
preaches to farmers and the
elderly in the bleak, semi-
abandoned village of Jacume
yards from the U.S. border
fence.
Please help us
with the work
of the
Xaverian
Missionaries
Contact:
Fr. Frank Grappolli, SX
12 Helene Court
Wayne, NJ 07470
973.942.2975

News from our USA Communities
X avier Knoll is usually quiet, but not
on the weekend of June 27-28
when we celebrated the annual Xaverian
Mission Festival. For over a month, a
flier announced to neighboring parishes
and communities the event, also with
radio announcements and newspaper
ads, and generous volunteers had come
for weeks to shift through the donated
items for the huge giant rummage sale,
to polish, label, clean and display these
“antiques” in our ample garage. Other
volunteers prepared at home the cakes,
pies, breads and cookies for the Bake
Sale booth. Others invested time and
creativity to set up the Mission Tent with
displays of photographs, maps, flags,
information of countries where the
Xaverian Missionaries work and religious
items and books were available for sale.
Still a small group of faithful volunteers
came to sort through the various prizes
for the children’s games (enjoyed by
adults too, of course).
The Xaverian Theology students
joined Fr. Alfredo and many other volun-
teers to set up the booths and tents dur-
ing the week of the Festival. By Friday
everything was ready and the big ques-
tion was whether the weather would
cooperate. The weather was perfect
except for a light drizzle on Saturday
evening,... but under the tents, everyone
was comfortable with the live entertain-
ment.
From our USA Communities
2009
Mission Festival:
Summer Fun
for the
Missions
Everyone had a great time, young and
old. Good food, with ribs, sausages,
hamburgers, hot dogs, corn-on-the-cob,
ice-cream, nachos and chees, and deli-
cious chicken dinner (prepared by the
Meinholz crew and C.) and a superb spa-
ghetti and meatballs supper (prepared
by great friends of Sr. Louette). On
Sunday, Family Day, saw lots of children Our students, Pascal Atumissi and
enjoying Face Painting, MAD science, Francois Noah give a helping hand in
Clowns and Bouncing Castle. The live more ways than one.
entertainment of the Doo-Wop Daddies
and the Schneider band kept hundreds of
people singing, dancing and enjoying the
good time until the closing of the Mission
Festival.
A salient point of the Festival was
the celebration of the Mass at the out-
door Shrine of St. Francis Xavier on
Sunday, with Fr. Dominic being the pre-
sider, assisted by Fr. Alfredo. Fr.
Dominic’s homily centered around our
availability in doing the work and deeds The Meinholz family prepared the
chicken dinners.
of Jesus in our lives, and this was indeed
mirrored by the witness of so many vol-
unteers who helped us run a successful
Mission Festival… some 300 of you, who,
in many ways, show your concern and
love for the mission of the Church.
We would like to offer a wholehearted
warm and sincere “thank you” for all the
volunteers and the thousands who came
to make of this year’s Mission Festival a
great success. U
Children and adults enjoy the games.
Xaverian Mission Newsletter • August 2009 11
 Xaverian Mission Newsletter • August 2009

Come, follow me,” Jesus said,

“and I will make you fishers
of humanity.” (Matt 4:19)

Be A Sign of
The Compassion of Christ
in a World Longing for Peace

Become A
Religious Missionary

Contact:
Fr. Joe Matteucig, SX
101 Summer Street
Holliston, MA 01746
(508) 421-2144
Holliston.sx@gmail.com
Xaviermissionaries.org

Men fishing on the shores of Mozambique, East Africa

The Xaverian Missioners Are Presently Serving In:

Bangladesh • Brazil • Burundi • Cameroon • Chad • China • Colombia • Democratic Republic of Congo • France
Great Britain • Indonesia • Italy • Japan • Mexico • Mozambique • Philippines • Sierra Leone • Spain • Taiwan • U.S.A.

Return Service Requested

Missionaries
Xaverian
PAID Holliston, MA 01746-5857
101 Summer Street
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Non-Profit Org. X averian Missionaries